Strawberry plant named ‘ZARINA’

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Zarina’ (105218).

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Varietal denomination: ‘ZARINA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct early day-neutralstrawberry variety designated as ‘ZARINA’ (a.k.a. ‘105218’). This newvariety is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parentcultivar designated ‘1007’ and a male parent cultivar designated ‘880’(both unpatented, proprietary cultivars) made by the inventor and firstfruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields.

Following selection and during testing, the plant was originallydesignated ‘105218’ and subsequently named ‘ZARINA’. The new variety of‘ZARINA’ was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventorat Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source havebeen tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent,growing fields in low and high elevation. The properties of this varietywere found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. Thecultivar is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral typecultivar designated as ‘ZARINA’, but may be considered a weakday-neutral in that it is somewhat similar to a short day. It isprimarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the centralcoast of California. This region provides the necessary temperaturesrequired for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain infruit production from April through October. The nearby Pacific Oceanprovides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and eveningchilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety‘Ginza’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanicalmeasurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normal conditionsin Watsonville, Calif.

-   -   High-yield, and    -   Large Fruit

The produced fruit is attractive and of excellent quality. Producedfruit is pink-red to light-red at maturity, medium to large in size,firm, conical to cylindrical in shape with a smooth surface lackingcreases. Seeds may be slightly sunken below the surface.

‘ZARINA’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the centralcoast of California, characterized by foliage small to medium in sizeand medium green in color. Production generally begins in April andproduces continually into October with 40% to 50% of its production inthe months of August through September.

‘ZARINA’ is different from strawberry variety ‘BOB’, a.k.a. ‘105626’ andstrawberry variety ‘GINZA’, a.k.a. ‘102011’ disclosed in the co-pendingapplications. The table below shows differences among these varieties.

‘BOB’ ‘GINZA’ (U.S. patent (U.S. patent application No. application No.Variety 13/373,617) 13/373,615) ‘ZARINA’ Fruit Size medium to largeuniformly medium to large length: 4.2 cm medium in size length: 4.4 cmwidth: 4.0 cm length: 3.7 cm width: 4.0 cm width: 3.6 cm Weight/Fruit20.7 g 16.8 g 25.6 g Average 153.4 g 91.7 g 87.5 g weight/plant Average251 220 271 achenes/fruit Fruit shape mostly conical conicalPredominately with some wedge conical Surface Texture smooth, lackingsmooth, lacking smooth, lacking creases creases creases Seed/SurfaceSeeds are slightly Seeds are well Seeds may be Position sunken below theabove the slightly sunken surface surface below the surface

When ‘ZARINA’ is compared to the proprietary female parent ‘1007’, it issimilar in size. ‘ZARINA’ produces much more fruit and with seeds lessindented.

When ‘ZARINA’ is compared to the proprietary male parent ‘880’, it isshorter and produces a higher yield with a later harvest interval.

When ‘ZARINA’ is compared to ‘Albion’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,228),‘ZARINA’ is a smaller plant but produces a similar yield with comparablefruit size.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the‘ZARINA’ cultivar at various stages of development as nearly true aspossible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows the plant in production stage, bearing fruit.

FIG. 2 shows the plant with flower and runners.

FIG. 3 shows typical leaves in the production cycle.

FIG. 4 shows ripe ‘ZARINA’ fruit (June).

FIG. 5 shows ripe and near-ripe fruits.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive early producingday-neutral (ever-bearing) type cultivar designated as ‘ZARINA’.‘ZARINA’ is typical of day-neutral strawberry cultivars and producesfruit regardless of the day length when treated appropriately inmoderate, coastal climates. ‘ZARINA's’ fruit is medium to large in size,that is relatively firm to very firm with its shape conical tocylindrical with seeds slightly sunken; color is light orange to mediumred at maturity.

Among the characteristics that distinguish the new variety from theother closely related varieties are the timing of fruiting, plant vigor,position of the inflorescences, leaf morphology, leaf size, leafdensity, leaf color, and disease and pest resistance.

‘ZARINA’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisonsdescribe this plant as grown at California, when grown in the field,unless otherwise noted. As stated above, the color determination is inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995Edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. Plants for the botanical measurements in thepresent application are annual plants.

-   Botanical classification: ‘ZARINA’ is a fertile hybrid derived from    a cross.-   Common name: Garden strawberry.-   General Description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Moderate, coastal climates.

The following description is applied to our plants that are 5 months oldas of the time of the measurements.

-   Classification:    -   -   Species.—Fragaria×ananassa.        -   Common name.—Garden Strawberry.        -   Denomination.—‘ZARINA’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘1007’.        -   Male parent.—‘880’.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—9.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—16.8 cm.        -   Habit.—Globose, upright.        -   Density.—Low.        -   Vigor.—Medium.-   Terminal leaflet:    -   -   Length.—4.8 cm.        -   Width.—5.8 cm.        -   Length/width ratio.—0.8.        -   Shape in cross-section.—Concave.        -   Blistering.—Low.        -   Glossiness.—Low.        -   Average number of leaflets.—Exactly 3.        -   Color above.—Dark Green (RHS 137A).        -   Color below.—Green (RHS 139C).        -   Shape.—Orbicular.        -   Margin.—Crenate to Serrate.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate. The shape of the base is            obtuse and light to medium in density. No bract leaves were            observed in samples. The leaves are moderately to highly            glossy. The shapes of the leaves are slightly concave to            almost flat. There is minimal tertiary fruit grown from the            variety.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—4.4 cm.        -   Width.—5.8 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow Green (RHS 145A).-   Petiolule:    -   -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow Green (RHS 145A).-   Stolon:    -   -   Average daughters/plant.—2.        -   Diameter.—3.3 mm.        -   Color.—Dark Purple Red (RHS 53A).-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Position relative to foliage.—At same level.        -   Average petals/flower.—5.        -   Petal length.—11.0 mm.        -   Petal width.—12.0 mm.        -   Petal length/width ratio.—About 1.        -   Petal shape/base.—Orbicular.        -   Petal apex.—Round.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal spacing.—Slightly overlapping.        -   Petal color.—White (RHS 157B).        -   Corolla.—25 mm.        -   Sepal length.—14.8 mm.        -   Sepal width.—8.3 mm.        -   Sepal length/width ratio.—1.8.        -   Sepal color.—Dark Green (RHS 137A).        -   Calyx.—38 (Diameter relative to corolla: Larger).        -   Peduncle.—9.5 cm.        -   Bract frequency.—Zero. The positioning of the inflorescence            is even with or above foliage.-   Fruit:    -   -   Fruit truss attitude.—Prostrate.        -   Relative size.—Large.        -   Fruit length.—4.4 cm.        -   Fruit width.—4.0 cm.        -   Surface color.—Red (RHS 45A).        -   Flesh color.—Orange Red (RHS 41B).        -   Core color.—White (RHS 155C).        -   Shape.—Predominately conical.        -   Average weight/fruit.—25.6 g.        -   Average weight/plant.—87.5 g.        -   Hollow core length.—15. mm.        -   Hollow core width.—10. mm.        -   Hollow core length/width ratio.—1.5.        -   Insertion of achenes.—Slightly indented.        -   Average achenes/fruit.—271.        -   Firmness of flesh.—Firm.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Sweetness.—Medium. The plant produces mostly conical fruit            with some long cones as well as long wedges and the fruit            color is dull to light gloss. Seed position on fruit is            somewhat indented. The fruit hardness was measured with a            force dial and averaged 7.4 N to pierce the fruit 7.5 mm.            The fruit's flavor is consistently good or better than good            throughout the season.-   Variety identification testing for ‘ZARINA’: No matches to existing    cultivars were found using SSR marker testing in a commercial    database search.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberryplant named ‘Zarina’ substantially as shown and described herein.